Loose-leaf binder



J. SCHADE.

LOOSE LEAF BINDER.

APPLiCATlON FILED OCT. 2. 1919.

1,342,766. Patented June 8, 1920.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN SCHADE, OF HOLYOKE, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO NATIONAL BANK BOOK COMPANY, OF HOLYOKE, MASSACHUSETTS, A VOLUNTARY TRUST ASSOCIATION OI COPARTNERSHIP HAVING AS TRUS TEES, J. W. TOWNE, F. B. TOWNE, E. S.

TOWNE, J'. M. TOWNE, AND F. W. WILSON.

LOOSE-LEAF BINDER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 8, 1920.

Application filed October 2. 1919. Serial No. 327,899.

Toall whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN SoHAnn, a citizen of the United States, residing at the city of Holyoke, county of Hampden, State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Loose-Leaf Binders; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact descriptlon of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in a loose leaf binder with particular reference to the ring employed therein, the principal object being to provide a simple and economically constructed ring consisting of an inherently resilient coil, the ends of which are adapted to interlock to form a complete ring and when disengaged from each other spring or separate laterally forming substantially a section of a helix.

The invention further resides in and the manufacture of the ring binder and the specific features of construction thereof hereinafter described and claimed, refercnce being made to the accompanying drawing wherein,

Figure 1 shows a loose leaf binder embodying two of the improved binder rings, one of which is operatively and the other inoperatively positioned;

Fig. 2 is a side view thereof depicting a binder ring locked in position; and

Fig. 3 is a sectional view through the ring on line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

The particular form of loose leaf binder here depicted consists of two covers 1 inclosing a filler 2 of loose sheets and all bound together, in a loose or flexible manner, by a desired number of binder rings of which two are incorporated in the present disclosure.

Each ring 3 is a section of a helix, or so formed, made of ribbon-like wire of a resilient character and concavo-convex in cross section whereby the ends of the ring Will snugly nest and interlock when brought together in superposed relation. The free ends of the helical section, constituting the ring, extend beyond one another to form a closed ring when they are brought together and interlocked against the lateral resiliency or inherent twist of the metal.

In practice, to unlock the binder ring the interlocked ends are separated by lifting one out of its nested relation with the other when the ends will spread or separate laterally. The loose leaves and covers may then be threaded or unthreaded, as the case may be, and ring terminals again overlapped or nested. The rings not onlv bind. the leaves together but also serve to join'the covers.

The ends of the ring snugly fit one another to afford a good lock as against accidental or unauthorized displacement, and when separated they will naturally spring apart in one direction only. Either terminal may be nested in the coacting one. Thus the improved ring possesses many added advantages over the sectional and other types of binder rings heretofore employed in binders.

The rings can obviously be utilized in other constructions with equal success and efiiciency, and because of the ease and cheapness with which they may be manufactured their advantages and economical features are readily apparent.

Also the rings may be made of wire or metal strips whose cross section is other than concavo-convex, so long as the ring terminals are so constructed that they will interlock.

lVhat is claimed is:

1. A binder ring formed of ribbon-like, resilient wire coiled in the form of a helix and having its ends shaped to interlock with each other.

2. A binder ring formed of ribbon-like, resilient wire of concave-convex section, the terminals extending beyond and adapted to interlock with each other in nesting relation.

In testimony whereof I ailix my signature. 

